Hubert H. Humphrey Fellows at the Virginia Tech Language and Culture Institute
The Virginia Tech Language and Culture Institute is
currently hosting fifteen international Fulbright scholars who are
participating in the Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Long Term English Training
Program. Fourteen countries are represented, including Brazil, Burma
(Myanmar), Cote d’Ivoire, Ecuador, Haiti, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Panama, the
Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, South Africa,
Turkey,
Turkmenistan, and Venezuela. At the Virginia Tech Language and Culture
Institute, the Fellows are working diligently to refine their academic language
skills. Their curriculum includes content-based instruction on intercultural
development, conflict resolution and leadership skills. In addition to their
formal coursework at the Virginia Tech Language and Culture Institute, the
Fellows have participated in volunteer activities in the Blacksburg community
and in classes on the Virginia Tech campus.
In the community, the Fellows recently volunteered at Micah’s
Backpack, preparing meals for students and families who qualify for the free
and reduced lunch program. The Fellows joined other volunteers who gather every
Thursday evening at St. Michael Lutheran Church to help package meals for
students. Not only did the Fellows enjoy
packing meals, but they also benefited from engaging in conversation with local
volunteers dedicated to running Micah’s Backpack.
Humphrey Fellows
volunteer at Micah’s Backpack
On campus, the Fellows participated in Professor Eric
Kaufman’s course on Leadership in a
Global Society. The Fellows interacted with students in a discussion on the
personal and professional competencies required for effective leadership in a
global, diverse and, multicultural society. The Fellows also participated in
Professor Elizabeth Fine’s course on Multicultural
Communication. Professor Fine’s students engaged with the Fellows on topics
related to communication, including the process of exchanging meaningful
information across cultural boundaries in a way that preserves mutual respect.
At the end of the training program, the Fellows will move on
to host universities, including American University, Arizona State University,
Cornell University, Emory University, Johns Hopkins University, Michigan State
University, Syracuse University, Tulane University, and the University of
Minnesota. At these locations, they will
further their own research projects in diverse areas, including agriculture and
rural development, environmental policy, HIV/AIDS policy and prevention, human
rights, and journalism. The Fellows will
engage in professional networking activities and non-degree graduate level
study in order to obtain expertise that will be applied and adapted in their
respective countries.
The Fellows will be on the Virginia Tech main campus through
August 2012. Invitations to visit classes, departments, businesses and
government offices are welcome and should be directed to program director
Robert (Bert) Wilson at rwwilson@vt.edu or
540-231-5730.
